The Admissions Office is located in Room 404 in the Student Center. The 400 building also houses the Financial Aid and Records & Registration offices. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. with extended hours during advertised evening registration. Admissions and Financial Aid offices also are open until 6 p.m. every Thursday, excluding holidays.

New Students

All new students must complete an application for admission, which can be submitted online at:

Those without internet access may call the Garrett College Office of Admissions at 301-387-3044 or toll-free 866-554-2773 to request a copy by mail. To apply in person, visit the Office of Admissions Monday through Friday. Prior to registration for classes, new students must take a placement test. An academic advisor will assist new degree and certificate-seeking students with course selection.

Returning Students

A returning student who has been enrolled at Garrett College during the past four semesters and has not taken college courses elsewhere in his/her absence from GC should contact his/her academic advisor to make a registration appointment. A returning student who has not been enrolled at Garrett College during the past four semesters should contact the Office of Admissions regarding readmission. A returning student who has taken college courses elsewhere in his/her absence from GC must also contact the Office of Admission, regardless of the number of semesters he/she has been away from Garrett College.

Garrett College utilizes the ACCUPLACER placement indicator to assess applicants’ reading, writing, and mathematics ability. Degree- and certificate-seeking students identified by the placement test as needing additional preparation for college-level courses will be required to complete the prescribed developmental classes in his/her first semester and, if applicable, the semester that immediately follows until successfully completing the associated college-level course (or, in the case of Reading, the final developmental course). Students who enroll in a developmental English course must also successfully complete a First Year Experience course in their first semester or will need to repeat the course in the subsequent semester(s) until successful.

At Garrett College, academic advising is a collaborative process designed to help students succeed academically; develop an appropriate educational plan leading to graduation and beyond; focus on their life beyond the college experience; and assume a responsible and proactive role in their own education. Academic Success Advisors work with students in their first semester and with students who are on academic probation, while Faculty Advisors work with students who have earned at least 12 college-level credits. Returning students can find the name and contact information of their advisor through the Student Portal.

Career Advising

Career advising services at Garrett College provide opportunities for students to develop clear career goals and design action plans to reach those goals, including obtaining relevant career experience and developing the skills necessary to conducting an effective job search. Online career assessment is available for those needing to select a major and/or career direction. Students are encouraged to discuss their career advising needs with their advisor and to learn more at:

Students wishing to transfer to a 4-year institution are strongly encouraged to identify their transfer-to institution as soon as possible. Students who do so will have a much greater likelihood of a smooth transfer. Working with their advisor, students can use online tools such as ARTSYS (www.artsys.usmd.edu) to plan their classes at Garrett College well in advance.

Affirmative Action for Educational Opportunity

Garrett College is committed to the principle and practice of Equality of Opportunity and Affirmative Action in employment and education. Garrett College provides an easily accessible education for all students who can profit from college-level instruction. All high school graduates are eligible for admission to the College. Students who have not received a high school diploma may be admitted on a provisional basis. Garrett College does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, or physical or mental disability with respect to admission, access to courses, or student-related policies and procedures.

Entrance Placement Indicator

For most students, the enrollment process includes the completion of the placement indicator known as ACCUPLACER. Please note that you must have an appointment to take placement.

Applicants who have achieved an ACT Verbal score of 21 or an SAT Critical Reading score of 550 will be exempt from the Garrett College English placement indicator. Students who have scored 21 on the ACT Math subject test or 550 on the SAT Math will be placed in either MAT 105 or MAT 210; students attempting a math placement higher than MAT 105 or MAT 210 must take ACCUPLACER to determine exact math placement.

ACT/SAT SCORE

TESTING?

COURSE PLACEMENT

ACT English of 21 or higheror SAT Critical Reading of 550 and higher

English and reading placement tests not required

ENG101 with no additional reading requirement

ACT math of 21 or higher

or SAT math of 550 and higher

Math placement test not required

MAT105 or MAT210

Students seeking a higher math placement must take ACCUPLACER to determine exact course placement.

Applicants who have already successfully completed College Composition and/or College Algebra or higher are also exempt from placement. Please note that official test scores and/or college transcripts must be on file in the Garrett College Office of Admissions for those seeking exemption from placement.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PLACEMENT

Your scores on the reading, writing, and math portions of ACCUPLACER will determine if you are ready to take college-level courses. Students who are well-prepared for placement may be able to avoid taking developmental courses in math and/or English. Students with lower scores on the placement test may be required to take several developmental classes before taking college-level classes.

Please make an appointment in advance and arrive on time for your testing appointment. Failure to do either may result in needing to reschedule your placement test.

After taking placement, an advisor will interpret your results with you in person or by phone. Where you placed in English, Reading, and Math will be discussed with you, as well as available options for improving your scores. One possibility, for those who qualify, is a one-day refresher course offered on campus. Immediately following the course, students retake the placement test while the material is still fresh in their minds.

Retesting is always an option; however, experience has shown that the likelihood of improving your scores is good only with significant intervention, such as taking a refresher course or studying between the first and second test. There is no cost for retesting.

Those who take ACCUPLACER at Garrett College on any of the above dates will have the option to register for classes the same day. Please plan to remain on campus until approximately 4 p.m. for same-day testing and registration. If you test on any other day, please plan to schedule your advising/registration appointment when you come to campus to take ACCUPLACER.

Garrett College participates in most Title IV Federal Student Assistance Programs and Maryland State, private, and local scholarships. You may obtain further information and applications in the Financial Aid Office in rooms 401, 403, 405, or 407 of the Student Center or by calling 301-387-3080.

Applying for Financial Aid at Garrett College

At Garrett College, we've made applying for financial aid easy. All it takes is one form -- the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA allows the Department of Education to determine how much your family can be expected to contribute to your educational expenses. When you apply for financial aid, the amount you're awarded is based on the difference between the cost of attending Garrett and this expected contribution.

FAFSA on the web is now available at www.fafsa.gov. If you plan to attend the Spring 2015 semester, use the 2014-15 FAFSA. Information is based on 2013 income.

TAX RETURNS CANNOT BE COLLECTED THIS YEAR (under the new law, parents and students must either utilize the IRS data retrieval tool on the FAFSA or request a tax transcript from the IRS).

Enter Garrett’s school code (010014) on your FAFSA so that we'll receive your information as soon as it is processed.

There is no payment plan for Intersession. Payment is due in full January 6, 2015.

Spring 2015

To assist our students and their families in meeting their financial obligations, we offer a deferred payment plan as an alternative to traditional payment arrangements. It is important that students understand their payment obligations. We encourage students to contact the Business Office at 301-387-3061 if they have questions.

Full financial aid – If you are receiving enough financial aid to cover your entire balance, there is no charge to defer your account balance.

Partial financial aid – a) If you bring a statement of your financial aid awards to the Business Office, complete the appropriate paperwork, and pay any balance not covered by financial aid by January 8, 2015, there is no charge to defer the portion of your bill covered by financial aid. b) If you bring a statement of your financial aid awards to the Business Office and would like to defer any remaining balance, you may enroll in a payment plan. Information on the payment plan is available on the college website.

Regular deferred payment plan – For questions regarding the payment plan program, go to and click on How to Pay.

If you are covered by an outside party such as Western Maryland Consortium, AmeriCorps, Division of Rehabilitation Services, your employer, etc., you must have the appropriate paperwork on file by January 8, 2015, to avoid interest and/or late fees.

Delinquent Accounts

We will charge delinquent accounts a $25 late fee. In addition, we will refer delinquent accounts to our collection agency which is currently the State of Maryland’s Central Collection Unit. Once an account is referred to CCU, a collection fee of 17% will be added to the account, the debt will be reported to consumer reporting agencies, and Garrett College can no longer settle the account. If you have a delinquent account, you will not be allowed to register for the upcoming semester. In addition, no grades or transcripts will be released until the account is paid in full. If you pay with a personal or business check, grades and/or transcripts will be held for 30 days after receipt of payment due to the possibility of insufficient funds or stop payments. Accounts paid with either cash or credit cards can have information released by the next business day.

Educational Opportunities

Whether you are 16 or 60, planning to complete a degree or pursue a new interest, seeking a new career, or planning to upgrade your job skills, you will find educational opportunities and services at Garrett College. At Garrett College, we’re proud to offer a wide range of courses leading to a variety of Certificates or Associate’s Degrees. Students major in fields that include Adventure Sports Management, Business and Information Technology, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, Teacher Education, Fine and Performing Arts, General Studies, Liberal Arts, Mathematics and Science, Natural Resources and Wildlife Technology, and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Each year, Garrett graduates outperform students from most other community colleges in Maryland, historically ranking at or near the top in terms of their GPA at transfer institutions, just as they enjoy great success in the workplace. Whether your goal is to take a course for personal interest or to take the first steps toward a college degree, Garrett College offers exciting and invaluable opportunities for you to learn.

West Virginia Reciprocity

West Virginia residents of certain West Virginia counties who enroll in programs qualifying for West Virginia Reciprocity pay the same tuition as residents of Garrett County. For a complete listing of these programs and a listing of eligible counties, contact the Admissions Office at 301-387-3044.

Statewide Designated Programs

All residents of Maryland who enroll in a qualified statewide designated program (Adventure Sports Management or Natural Resources & Wildlife Technology AAS degree) are eligible for the in-county tuition rate.

Credit for Prior Learning

If you have had significant experience that has resulted in college level learning, you may have this learning evaluated through Garrett’s process of nontraditional credit. Options include challenge tests, performance evaluations, and portfolio assessment. Applications are available in the Office of Instruction & Student Learning. (Fees may apply.)

Persons 60 Years Old or Retired and Disabled

Tuition may be waived for any Maryland resident who is 60 years old or older or who is disabled/retired (by reason of disability). Not all disabled persons are eligible--only those with a permanent disability who are currently receiving social security disability benefits or those eligible as defined by the Railroad Retirement Act. ONLY upon verification that a person is receiving such benefits will tuition be waived.

Veterans’ Assistance

Garrett College participates in GI Bill Education/Training Benefits and other military assistance programs. Interested veterans should contact Veterans Affairs in the Office of Financial Aid at 301-387-3057 for more information or online at www.gibill.va.gov.

Additional Information

Student ID Cards

Garrett College photo ID cards can be obtained from the Security Office. The ID card can be used as your Library card and in the Lakers Café in conjunction with your meal plan. It can also serve to prove your student status for sporting events and area discounts.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. According to federal law, Garrett College may not release specific aspects or any information of a student’s academic record, including the student’s financial account with the College to a parent, relative or guardian unless the student provides permission. Students wishing to grant such permission are required to complete and submit a Student Information Release form which is available in the Office of Records and Registration. Additional information regarding FERPA may be found in the College catalog.

Schedule Changes/Withdrawing from College

In order to drop or add courses by the official drop/add dates, students are required to submit a Schedule Change form, with the advisor’s signature, to the Office of Records & Registration. This office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with extended hours during advertised evening registration.

Schedule Notes

Prerequisites: If a prerequisite is noted, please refer to the College Catalog for specific requirements.

Online Learning: Students are required to complete an online or on-campus orientation session prior to the start of their online course(s).

Textbook InformationThe International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and the retail price information for required/recommended textbooks for the current CREDIT session can be found online at: